Essential Oil of the Month: Spruce
Breathe in the crisp, brisk air of early winter. Let it fill your lungs with its rejuvenating freshness. Now imagine that you are walking gently on the earth through a forest of ancient trees. The scent expands and cleanses your lungs, while it soothes your spirit. That scent enveloping you is from the towering evergreen trees – the Spruce.
Hemlock Spruce essential oil has a relaxing presence, comforting our spirits during long, cold, dark nights.Sometimes referred to as Eastern Hemlock or Canadian Hemlock, due to where they are naturally located, Hemlock Spruce is not to be confused with the poisonous hemlock plant that was used for Socrates’ euthanasia; that plant, (Conium maculatum), is an unrelated species. Hemlock Spruce is considered to be safe and non-toxic. Folklore has it that the moniker “hemlock” was affixed to the Spruce when it was perceived to have a similar scent to the poisonous plant.
• Helps with recovery from mental fatigue and burnout.
• Soothes muscle aches and joint pain
• Anti-inflammatory properties may help with pain.
• Naturally antimicrobial and antibacterial.
• Natural expectorant—traditionally used topically for coughs and colds
• Promotes relaxation
• Assists in meditation
• Supports overall immunity and vitality
• Clears mucus and congestion
• Skin cleansing properties
Energetically, Spruce is grounding yet uplifting. Its scent can create a calming yet refreshing atmosphere, while increasing a sense of security, allowing space to overcome energetic and emotional blocks. It is spiritually cleansing, connecting the Divine and Mother Earth elements, enabling deep meditation.
Eastern Hemlock Spruce trees are the largest native evergreen conifer in the Eastern USA. Some have been measured over 170 feet tall with trunks up to 5 feet across. These sacred trees often live to 400-500 years with the oldest ones living up to 1000 years.
Its mighty longevity was put to verse in the 1959 poem The Hemlock Tree, and Its Legends
"A monument of bygone days,
I’ve kept the place where now I grow;
And, over all my head did raise
Above a thousand years ago
“What mighty changes in that space!
What revolutions on the earth!
What strange events have taken place!
What wonders! Since I date my birth!”
Hemlock Spruce needles were used extensively by Native Americans for a wide variety of purposes – including infusions and poultices as well as steaming the twigs in steam baths for cough, colds, sore throats, and achy muscles and joints.
In the 1980s, the Japanese developed a method called Shinrin-yoku or ‘forest bathing’. It simply involves immersing oneself in the forest as a meditation or relaxation technique. This practice has been shown to lower stress, uplift spirits, improve sleep and boost immune function. Nature is an amazing healer. Submersing oneself in its calm beauty is highly therapeutic.
In our busy lives, we aren't always able to go for a restoring hike in the woods. However, Tsuga, or Spruce, essential oil can create that calm, woodsy scent wherever you need it. Whether in your home, office or vehicle, this refreshing oil can bring the rejuvenating calmness of the forest to you! Its natural properties support the respiratory system, allowing for deep, cleansing inhalation.
Using Spruce essential oil in a diffuser is an easy way to give yourself your own version of ‘forest bathing’ when you can’t escape into nature. It is a great way to evoke that feeling of a therapeutic walk through the forest, transform your space, calm your mind, ground yourself, and create a peaceful atmosphere.
- 3 Drops Cedarwood
- 4 Drops Hemlock Spruce
- 2 Drops Frankincense
- 1 Drop Ylang Ylang
Use up to 5 drops in a large diffuser or to facilitate breathing, add to 1oz. Castor Oil as a chest rub. Apply to mid-chest and cover with clean fabric overnight.
Forest Bathing Inspired Products
PRECAUTIONS: Generally thought to be safe. As with all essential oils, if you are pregnant or nursing, taking medication or have a medical condition, consult your physician before use. Keep Hemlock Spruce in a cool, dark place or a refrigerator, as it could be a skin irritant if oxidation occurs. A skin patch test is advised.
Like great truths, that which we call ‘evergreen’ is thought to be timeless and enduring.